To Islamists: Does the average muslim believe in the virgins awaiting in heaven for holy war heroes?

Depend on education level and intelligence. Arabic language is power full and sophisticated language and a lot of thing you hear is more or less is a direct translation and the real meaning get lost. In many cases it carry a deeper meaning than what is looks. The description of paradise and hell in the koran and I think in other religion as well use human desire as a reward and pain as a punishment, then good people we get every thing a human desire from food to sex etc. This way of describing is one way to get simple people to understand and get intelligence people to look beyond human desire fulfillment.

Who would want 72 prudes who won't put out is beyond me.